Strong demand across all breeds at Kilkenny Bull sale

Several beef and dairy breeds sold at the recent multi-breed bull sales at Kilkenny with some of the highlights from the sale including:

The overall sale topper in the Limousin ring was Galbally Louis 1135 from Trevor Masterson, Galbally, Ballyhogue, Enniscorthy, Co. Wexford selling for €4300. This bull was born in January 2016 and is a five star index bull for both maternal and terminal beef traits. He is sired by the homebred stock bull Galbally Indian and is out of Galbally Flora.

The Aberdeen-Angus breed enjoyed a 90% plus clearance with strong and sustained demand for bulls across all ages.

Sale leader in the Aberdeen-Angus ring came from John McEnroe, Liss, Oldcastle, Co. Meath who sold Liss Minter S590 for €4200. This February 2016 born bull is sired by Liss Marty M417 and is out a homebred dam from the Miylo cow family.

1st prize winner, Knockmountagh Nelson, from Eamon & John McKiernan, Newtown, Monasterboice, Co. Louth sold for the next best price in the Aberdeen-Angus section at €4000. At just 13 months old and one of the youngest bulls catalogued in the sale, this one is sired by the successful AI bull Mogeely Joe H979. Another bull from this herd, Knockmountagh Norman, a January 2016 born bull, sold for €3600. Norman is a son of Cornamuckla Lord Hardy K222 – one of the easiest calving Aberdeen-Angus bulls ever to stand in AI.

Norman Richardson, Tully North, Newtowngore, Carrick-On-Shannon, Co. Leitrim sold another young bull, the February 2016 born Ashtree Neil for €3900. This 3rd prize winner is sired by the stock bull Rabawn Marty M153.

Frank & Margaret McKiernan, Drumcrow, Colismore, Co. Cavan sold the November 2015 born bull, Drumcrow Pied Piper R635 for €3800. This one is sired by the homebred bull, Drumcrow Joker and boasted a calving difficulty figure of just 1%.

Meanwhile, three Aberdeen-Angus bulls sold at €3500. John McEnroe, Oldcastle, Co. Meath sold Liss Buster S621, another son of Liss Mart M417 for €3500. John Barlow, Aherlow, Co. Tipperary also received €3500 for a March 2016 born bull, Gurtavoher Neymar, a son of Castlelough Midnight Brandy who himself topped this very sale back in the Spring of 2015. The third Aberdeen-Angus bull to sell at €3500 was the day’s reserve champion, Brideswell Mark, exhibited by Patrick Harrison, Brideswell, Athlone, Co. Westmeath.

The champion bull, Bunlahy Mino, from Helen & Gerard Reynolds, Bunlahy, Ballinalee, Co. Longford failed to reach his reserve in the sales ring and was unsold.

In total, over 50 Aberdeen-Angus bulls sold in the sales ring to a very satisfactory average price of €2875.

In the Hereford ring, the supreme champion bull, Listrolin Lord, exhibited by Seamus Rohan, Listrolin, Mullinavat, Co. Kilkenny sold for €4000. This bull was born in September 2015 and is a son of the former RDS Champion of Champion recipient Kye Rodge 553.

The reserve champion bull, Bawngarriff Sonic from Christy Finn, Bawngariff, Ballycallan, Co. Kilkenny sold for €3800. This one is a son of the stock bull Bawngariff Franko.

Thomas Plunkett, Castletown, Finea, Mullingar, Co. Westmeath sold Arnagross General 2, a son of Trillick Ranger, for €3300.

Also selling at €3300 was Chatsworth Keeper from Thomas Hennessy, Chatsworth, Castlecomer, Co. Kilkenny. Another Chatsworth bull, Chatsworth Karl sold for €3000.

Finally, James Thompson, Ballyraggan, Rathvilly, Co. Carlow received €3000 for Ballyraggan Patriot 834. This bull sold with a five star rating for both terminal and replacement index.

Overall, Hereford bulls sold to a 72% clearance with an average price of €2985.

Lastly, in the Friesian ring, the top price there went to John C Murphy, Ballagh, Kilmanagh, Co. Kilkenny with Goldenfield Remedy selling for €3500. The youngest dairy bull on offer on the day, this one is out of an EX91 dam with milk yields to 11,963 kgs and protein to 4.29%. Following on from that, John Grogan, Cashel, Co. Tipperary sold Ballydoyle Teo 1 for €3100. This British Friesian bull is sired by Piet Adema 186 and had an EBI of €73.

The day’s reserve champion bull, Mountfarna Dawn Ryder, from John O’ Callaghan, Farnivane, Bandon, Co. Cork sold for €3000. This October 2015 born bull is sired by Relough Dangler and is out of a VG87 2nd calver with yields to 10,511 kgs of milk.

The final spring sale of dairy and beef bulls takes place at Cillin Hill, Kilkenny on Wednesday, May 17th.